Stair-step packaging defined by hair rollers

ABSTRACT

An article and methods involving stair-stepped defined by hair rollers contained therein, the article including a first set of hair rollers organized to present a first riser plane and a first landing plane, a second set of hair rollers organized to present a second riser plane, protruding from the first landing plane, and a second landing plane, and stair-step packaging, defined by the planes and the landings of the sets of hair rollers, including side, back, and bottom portions, and collectively confining the sets of rollers within the packaging, in a vertical orientation with respect to the bottom portion.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The technical field includes manufacture, apparatus, article, process,and product produced thereby, each pertaining to stair-step packagingdefined by hair rollers.

SUMMARY

Depending on the implementation, there is an apparatus, an article, amethod of use, and method of making, and corresponding products producedthereby, each pertaining to stair-step packaging defined by hairrollers.

FIGURES

FIG. 1 illustrates an embodiment of stair-step packaging defined byelongated hair rollers.

FIG. 2 illustrates an embodiment of stair-step packaging defined byelongated hair rollers.

FIG. 3 illustrates an embodiment of stair-step packaging defined byelongated hair rollers.

FIG. 5 is a design for presenting hair rollers.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The accompanying figures illustrate embodiments intended to illustrateand exemplify various embodiments in a teaching manner, by way of thecollective, prophetic teachings herein. FIG. 1 shows a perspective viewof an embodiment of a first set 2 of hair rollers, which can, but neednot, have the same length and/or width, and a second set 4 of hairrollers, which can, but need not, have the same length and/or width.

The rollers of the first set 2 can be aligned parallel such that each ofthe rollers has a lengthwise frontal line 3 in space oriented such thata plane 7 in space proximately connects the lines 3 to define a firstriser. The first set 2 of rollers can also each have a top line 5 inspace oriented such that a plane 9 in space proximately connects thelines 5 so as to define a first landing.

The rollers of the second set 4 can be aligned parallel such that eachof the rollers has a frontal lengthwise line 11 in space oriented suchthat a plane 13 in space proximately connects the lines 11 to define asecond riser protruding from the first landing. The second set 4 ofrollers can also each have a top line 15 in space oriented such that aplane 17 in space proximately connects the lines 15 so as to define asecond riser.

In some, but not all, embodiments, the rollers of the first set 2 andthe rollers of are of a different length than the length of the secondset 4, but by virtue of a bottom spacer etc. (not shown in FIG. 1) therollers can be of the same length and yet be configured to providerisers and landings. Also, in some, but not all, embodiments—the any ofthe rollers of sets 2 and 4 can have a hollow interior and an interiordiameter, and within which, there can be one other hair roller, etc. tohave one or more concentricly contained rollers. In any case, there canbe rollers of different diameters and/or lengths, such that a generallystair-stepped configuration is manifested, as illustrated in FIG. 1.

The rollers of the sets 2 and 4 can be made of plastic, be generallycylindrically shaped, have perforations, and in some cases, can have agrip at each end of the roller. The rollers can be such as shown in U.S.patent application Ser. No. 11/733,356, which is incorporated byreference. In another embodiment, the rollers can be in the range of 8inches to 4 inches, with a diameter ranging from ⅛ of an inch to 2inches.

Consider for the purposes of a teaching discussion, an embodiment inFIG. 1 wherein (for example) the first set 2 of rollers has a length of8 inches and the second set 4 of rollers has a length of 5 inches, eachset 2 and 4 having, say, the same diameter. The sets 2 and 4 can begrouped and organized into a substantially stair-stepped configuration,e.g., as illustrated in FIG. 1, providing essential qualities to thedefinition of stair-stepped packaging 25 discussed hereinafter.

Turn now to FIG. 2, which illustrates an embodiment of stair-steppedpackaging 25 for the stair-stepped configuration of sets 2 and 4 ofrollers. The packaging 25 can have a first riser face 6 and a secondriser face 8, the faces 6 and 8 corresponding to planes 7 and 13. Insome embodiments, the faces 6 and 8 can be disposed in substantiallyparallel planes with respect to each other. There can be a first landingface 10 and another landing face 12. In some embodiments, the landingfaces 10 and 12, corresponding to planes 9 and 17, can be disposed insubstantially parallel planes with respect to each other. In some, butnot all, configurations, one or more of the planes for faces 6 and 8 canbe substantially perpendicular to the planes for risers 10 and 12. Insome, but not all, embodiments, the faces 6, 8, 10, and 12 canessentially consist of planar surfaces.

Back face 14 can be oriented in a substantially parallel plane to one ormore of the faces 6 and 8, and corresponding to respective linear edgesof the rollers of the second (or back-most) set 4. Back face 14 can havean extension reaching beyond the packaging 25, the extension having ahole 21 configured to accommodate a conventional shelf hook or packageholder, as is commonly found in stores. Back face 14 can, but need not,have a view window 24 allowing visual inspection of contents of thepackaging 25.

There can be sides 16 and 18, which can be similarly shaped and definedwith respect to faces 6 and 8 and risers 10 and 12 and back 14 tocollectively form a stair-step configuration of two tiers. In otherembodiments, there can be one or more additional tiers with acorresponding additional riser and landing for each tier—note that therollers of each tier need not be a singular row, and can be a doublerow, triple, etc. In any case, each side 16 and 18 can respectivelycorrespond to an linear edge of a side-most roller of each set 2 and 4.

There can be a bottom face 20, which can be defined with respect tofaces 6 and 8, back 14, and sides 16 and 18, collectively oriented toform stair-step packaging 25. A support 22 can, but need not allembodiments, be located adjacent to the bottom 20.

Support 22 can, but need not in all embodiments, include holes, pockets,or housings 23 configured to receive a respective portion of at leastsome of the rollers of the sets 2 and 4, sufficient to maintain theirorganization and orientation. In an alternative embodiment, not shown inFIG. 2, protrusions can be used in place of the holes, pockets, orhousings, to maintain the position of the sets 2 and 4 of the rollers,e.g., the protrusions extending upwards from the bottom face 20,interior or exterior (or both) to at least some of each of the rollers.

The stair-stepped packaging 25 can be taller than its width or depth,preferably taller than its width and depth combined, and having anorientation to stand upright with respect to a conventional store shelfbut not be stackable in the upright orientation.

In some embodiments, the packaging 25 can have a resettable i.e.,reclosable or resealable configuration, such that after a first openingof the packaging 25, usage of the rollers and return of them, thepackaging 25 is resettable so as to be openable again in the same manneras the first opening. For example, the packaging 25 can have a hingedportion, or in another embodiment, a portion of the packaging 25, suchas the bottom 20, can be removable and resettable. In yet anotherembodiment, a potion including landings 10 and 12, can be temporarilyseparated from a portion including bottom face 20, etc., with theseparable portions being united and reunited by such means as by a tightfitting assembly of some of the portions, a zipper (in a flexibleembodiment), a notch in the bottom 20 located to accommodate parts offaces 6 and 14 and sides 16 and 18, etc.

If desired, an area of printed matter including instructions andillustrating (and/or photogenic images depicting) use or application 26of the contents of the packaging 25 (sets 2 and 4), and the results 28therefrom, can be provided on at least some of face 6, side 16, side 18,and/or back 14, but not so as to cover window 24, thereby integratingthe contents (sets 2 and 4 of rollers), packaging 25, and printedmatter.

Collectively, the sets of rollers 2 and 4 and the packaging 25 can be anarticle of manufacture.

There also can be a method of making the article of manufacture, whichcan include forming a portion of the packaging 25, having faces 6 and 6,sides 16 and 18, landings 10 and 12, and back 14, by die moldingplastic. Heavy stock paper accommodating the printing can be locatedadjacent to some of the portion formed by the die molding. A secondportion of the packaging 25, including the bottom 20 and support 22, canbe formed by die molding plastic and inserted into the first portion,e.g., if removably mounted, so as to form the packaging 25. Rollers forthe sets 2 and 4 can be inserted in part into the pockets 23 prior toinserting the second portion into the first portion.

Said another way, there can be a method of making the article ofmanufacture, the method including: locating a first set of hair rollersorganized to present a first riser plane and a first landing plane, andlocating a second set of hair rollers organized to present a secondriser plane, protruding from the first landing plane, and a secondlanding plane, within stair-stepped packaging defined by the sets ofhair rollers, such that the packaging has risers, landings, sides, and aback, wherein proportions of the risers, the landings, the sides, andthe back collectively correspond to the sets of hair rollers.

Additionally, there can be a method of using the article of manufacture,including opening the packaging 25, removing some or all of the rollers,and applying or using the rollers according to the instructions and, insome cases, according to the image(s) 26 so as to produce results 28. Inrecloseable embodiments, after applying or using the rollers, therollers can be returned to the pockets, holes, housings, protrusions,etc. 23, according to the size organization of the sets 2 and 4, and theportions of the packaging 25 can be closed for future use, commencingwith opening the packaging 25 again, etc. as if the first opening hadnot occurred.

Note that the foregoing is a prophetic teaching and although only a fewexemplary embodiments have been described in detail herein, thoseskilled in the art will readily appreciate from this teaching that manymodifications are possible, based on the exemplary embodiments andwithout materially departing from the novel teachings and advantagesherein. Accordingly, all such modifications are intended to be includedwithin the scope of the defined by claims. In the claims,means-plus-function claims are intended to cover the structuresdescribed herein as performing the recited function and not onlystructural equivalents, but also equivalent structures. Thus, although anail and a screw may not be structural equivalents in that a nailemploys a cylindrical surface to secure wooden parts together, whereas ascrew employs a helical surface, in the environment fastening woodenparts, a nail and a screw may be equivalent structures.

FIG. 4 can or alternatively be viewed as an ornamental design for thearticle for packaging hair rollers, as shown and described.

1. An article comprising: a first set of hair rollers organized topresent a first riser plane and a first landing plane; a second set ofhair rollers organized to present a second riser plane, protruding fromthe first landing plane, and a second landing plane; and stair-steppackaging, defined by the planes and the landings of the sets of hairrollers, including side, back, and bottom portions, and collectivelyconfining the sets of rollers within the packaging, in a verticalorientation with respect to the bottom portion.
 2. The article of claim1, wherein a first set of hair rollers have a first length; a second setof hair rollers have a second length; and said lengths are not the same.3. The article of claim 2, wherein each said set of hair rollers has ahollow interior diameter, and within at least some of the hollowinteriors is at least one other hair roller.
 4. The article of claim 1,wherein the packaging is structured as openable so as to allow removalof the rollers and resettable after returning the rollers, such thatafter use of the rollers, the packaging is again openable.
 5. Thearticle of claim 4, wherein the rollers are maintained in theirrespective positions regardless of the packaging being opened orreclosed, by holes, sockets, housings, or protrusions adjacent to thebottom.
 6. The article of claim 5, further including a window in theback portion, allowing visional inspection of some of the rollers withinthe packaging.
 7. A method of making the article of claim 1, the methodincluding: locating a first set of hair rollers organized to present afirst riser plane and a first landing plane, and locating a second setof hair rollers organized to present a second riser plane, protrudingfrom the first landing plane, and a second landing plane, withinstair-stepped packaging defined by the sets of hair rollers, such thatthe packaging has risers, landings, sides, and a back, whereinproportions of the risers, the landings, the sides, and the backcollectively correspond to the sets of hair rollers.
 8. The method ofclaim 7, wherein the packaging is die molded plastic comprising at leasttwo portions mateable together to be openable and resettable so as to beopenable again.
 9. The method of claim 7, further including locating,adjacent to some of at least one said portion, paper with outwardlydisplaying printing the printing including instructions and imagesdepicting use or application the sets of the rollers and depictingresults of the use or application.
 10. A method of using the article ofclaim 1, the method including: first opening of a package of a first setof hair rollers organized to present a first riser plane and a firstlanding plane, and of a second set of hair rollers organized to presenta second riser plane, protruding from the first landing plane, and asecond landing plane, the package being stair-stepped corresponding tothe sets of hair rollers, such that the packaging has risers, landings,sides, and a back, wherein proportions of the risers, the landings, thesides, and the back collectively correspond to the sets of hair rollers;using the hair rollers according to instructions adjacent to thepackaging and returning the hair rollers within the packaging, andresetting the packaging so as to be openable as if the first opening hadnot occurred.